Boiler feed control



Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES OFFICE $616,447 BOILEfR vFEED'coN'rRoil Philip H. williams. san'jas'efclif.

Application 'December 26, 1946,Serial No; 718,344

My `present inventionv relates to an improved boiler feed control forthe water level in a battery of steamj boilers and-more particularly tosuch `control in boilers to which condensate is being returned by acontinuous flow direct return system. I

In boilers used for heating machines thatare being drained by a directand continuous flow return system the temperature of the machines ismaintained through varying the rate of ow of steam and condensate to andthrough such machines. It will be evident that nothing must be permittedto check the fiow of such condensate as the result would be to renderinoperative the system of temperature control.

Uniform temperatures hence close regulation of flow are very importantfactors in certain food manufacturing processes, as for example thecooking of tomato pulp and juice to paste, catsup etc.

The conventional means for battery boiler level control depend uponthrottling the boiler with the high water level to force the feed waterinto the boiler having for the moment the lower Water level. Suchcontrols are usually so installed as to eventually close fully theinletvalve .to all the boilers, thus building up a pressure inthe feed linesin excess of normal requirements, such pressure acting upon a diaphragmthrottles or entirely closes off the flow of steam tothe feed pump andso stopping the pump until the water level again falls. With condensatethis system cannot be used as above described.

What is indicated in this case is an independent feed line to `returnthe condensate to the boilers, .distribute it uniformly and permitcondensate to continue to flow in theevent of the waterlevel rising tohigh from some other cause, as for example excess use or carelessness inthe operation of the make-up pump. The invention Vherein describedprovides a simple and dependable and efficient control for the purposesdescribed.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a means for uniformdistribution of returning condensate to a battery of steam boilers sothat a uniformly high water level may be maintained in all boilers ofthe battery.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide such means for suchpurpose as shall permit continued fiow of such condensate and distributesuch condensate to the several boilers when and if the water level insuch boilers rises above the operating water line.

Still another purpose of the invention is to provide such means for suchpurpose as shall be 2 Claims. (Cl. 137-637 .adapted to any form ofboiler' `feeding and which will operatefefciently under the variousmethds of boiler'feeding. l

Inthe accompanying drawings'I have. illustrated one complete example. ofthe rphysical embodiment of my-invention accordingto the best modeI'have thus far devised, but it. Awillfbe understood that variouschanges andalte'rations may be made in the exemplified structure. Withinthe scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings: y

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view of the assembled control .means of myinvention.

Fig. 2 isa vertical sectional view of the control.

Referring now to the drawings I have .illustrated the present preferredembodiment of my invention as comprising the boiler 2 having a waterfeed pipe 4 in which is" located a 'cw control mechanism 6 and a pump 8.

The control 6 consists ina housing I0 having a coupling.A for pipe 4 andsecured by bolts IIto the end liange I2of inletpipe I4.lformedwithiathreaded recess I6 for the pipe 4 rfrom. the pump 8.

They inlet pipe I4 has an opening III` consisting in a passage 'throughwhich water may vflowand aligned therebelow I provide an open well orcollar 20. A cylindrical valve 22 is locatedin the well and is adaptedto reciprocate. verticallyinto the opening I8 to control the flow ofwater therethrough. A stem or rod 24 passes through a guide 26 andpacking `28 is secured by cap 30.

A spring 32 mounted between vcollar Maand bracket .35 on the rod 24renders the rod flexibly movable and near the upper endof the rod-ls across. arm 38 pivoted on a bearing lug 40, and adjustably secured bythumb screw 42. Wires GII-6I and 62-63 connect respectively with mercuryswitches 64 and 66 and the main current lines B'I-Ii 8. The mercuryswitches are actuated by the link 'I0 of float arm 'l2 extending fromthe casing`14 operated by float 16.

. A further control consists in the opening mand aligned well in thetube I4 through which the rod 82 reciprocates and the valve 84 acts toclose the opening 18. The upper end of this rod carries a weight 86 intube 88 closed by cap 90 in the housing I Il.

In operation as seen in Fig. 2, the valve A22 is in its lower positionleaving opening I8 at the maximum desired capacity of flow. Waterpassing into case I4 through the opening I6, lmpelled by the feed pump8, passes out at the opening I8 through the outlet I3 into feed pipe 4and into the boiler 2, opening 'I8 being closed by the valve member 84held down by the weight 86. Under this condition, that is with theboiler level below normal and the valve 22 in its lower position thefloat 'I6 will be at a lower position and the solenoids 56 and 58inactive, their cores being in the lower or extended position and thebar 38 resting against the stops 38 shown.

Assume now the boiler 2 is steaming more slowly than other boilers ofthe series and is receiving more than its sharev of the feed. As thewater level W rises to normal the float 16 will be carried upward andcause the mercury switch 66 to close the circuit to solenoid 58.Solenoid 58 will then retract its armature 54 carrying upwardthe end ofbar 38 the extent of the travel of armature 54.

As nut 42 on rod 24 is in contact with *the center of bar 38 it will beevident that nut 42v and rod 24 carrying valve 22 will move a distanceequal to one half the movement of 54. valve 22 to its mid-positionpartially restricting the flow through I8 and forcing a portion of thewater to the other boilers of vthe battery.

As the water level W in boiler 2 continues to rise mercury switch tube64 will actuate solenoid 56 raising the other end of bar 38 a distanceequal lto the travel of armature 52 thus moving bar 38 lvalve 84 andpermitwater to flow in approximately equal proportions to each boileruntil such time as one of the'boilers will drop sufliciently to causeits valve 22 to reopen.

It will be clear that as the water level in one -or more boilers fallsthe above process will be reversed and water fed to the separate boilersof the battery in proportion to their requirements to maintain auniformwater level in all boilers.

Where a makeup pump is required its controls will be set to stop suchpump at a point below the closing point of valve 22 so that in practicevalve 22 will never be fully closed. It will be evident then that valve84 with its weight 86 constitutes a safety vvalve to prevent stoppage ofthe condensate `flow when carelessness or accident result in an'abnormally high water level.

The weight 86 may be installed to meet the Elocal lconditions and thenut 42 on rod 24 provides' 'afmeans' for adjusting the opening at I8tomeet local operating` conditions.

From the above description it will be evident'- that I have provided anemcient means for distributing-feed water to a battery of boilers that lwill automatically maintain a uniform water level -regardless ofrequirements of individual boilers of the battery, and that will permitcontinuous flow of returning condensate in systems where such,continuous iiow is essential to the proper control of machinetemperatures. It will be further evi- This will carry' dent that suchcontrol means may be adjusted to the varying needs of industrial plants.

While I have described the invention as applied to feeding a battery ofboilers it is not to be restricted to that use but is applicable to manyindustrial uses. As an example assume that it is desired to maintain thetemperature of a processing vat by the introduction of cooling waterwhen and if the temperature reaches a certain maximum. y It will beevidentthat altemperature control may be substituted for iioat control'I6 and by the proper adjustment of port I8 and weight 86 a closeregulation of the flow of cooling water may be secured.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a boiler feed regulator a housing having inner and outer chambers,means for connecting said housing in the boiler feed line, ports in saidhousing establishing communication between said inner and outerchambers, valve means for opening and closing one of said ports,electromagnetic means adapted to actuate said valve means and includinga valve stem, means for opening and closing another of such ports inresponse to pressure variations within said inner chamber, and means foradjusting the effective length of said valve stem.

2. In a boiler feed regulator having a housing -with an inner chamberhaving an inlet and an outer chamber having an outlet and twocommunicating ports between said chambers, one of said ports beingvalved by a pressure operated valve; the means of controlling the othersaid vport comprising a cylindrical valve located in position to openand close said port; a rod for the valve; a pivotally mounted 'cross armlon the rod; means for adjusting said cross arm longitudinally of saidrod; and electromagnetic means for'shifting said cross arm to actuatesaid valve.

'PHILIP H. WILLIAMy s,

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Y 341,203 y Aderhold May 4, 1886684,893 Whitfield Oct. 22, 1901 1,020,642 Elkofer Mar. 19,-19121,136,642 Collin Apr.- 20, 1915 1,666,573 Krantz'v Apr. 17, 19281,684,097 Humphrey Sept; 11, 1928 1,737,588 Hopkins Dec. 3, 19291,940,828 Veenscohoten Dec. 26, 1933 2,111,430 Lamar Mar. 15, 19382,218,700 Cornell Oct. 22, 1940 2,221,365 Ware Nov. 12, 1940 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 303,275 Great Britain of 1929

